District Thirty Three

1) MARRIAGE: Do you support or oppose legislation necessary to reverse the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which imposed same-sex marriage on all 50 states?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Oppose

Comment

I am not running for congress

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Support

R

House

Taffy Howard – Support

R

House

David Johnson – Support

Comment

I am opposed to same-sex marriages.
I believe in traditional Christian marriage. I’ve been married to Karen (my first and only wife) for thirty years. I abhor domestic violence and I have never committed domestic violence. I firmly believe that offenders of domestic violence should be punished in full, unforgiving compliance with the law. I believe in protecting and defending all aspects of the traditional family and traditional marriage as defined by the majority of Americans, and by God.

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Support

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Support

2) ABORTION: Do you support or oppose the 1973 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court abortion decision?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Support

Comment

Because privacy is the cornerstone of that case.

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Oppose

R

House

Taffy Howard – Oppose

R

House

David Johnson – Oppose

Comment

I oppose abortion.
I oppose abortion.
I am 100% Pro Life. I have always been. Birth and Life are, obviously, natural human rights. I believe in protecting the preborn. I also believe our society is obligated to protect the physically disabled, the mentally disabled, and the needy elderly. I believe – and my faith compels me to advocate – that all human life is sacred and sanctimonious and begins at conception. I believe life must be protected. I believe that all life must be defended. I advocate for peaceful, legal, ethical, non-violent activities in the protection of all human life.

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Oppose

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Oppose

3) PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Do you support or oppose giving tax dollars to Planned Parenthood?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Support

Comment

To prevent teen pregnancy and abortions.

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Oppose

R

House

Taffy Howard – Oppose

R

House

David Johnson – Oppose

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Oppose

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Oppose

4) RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: Do you support or oppose legislation to ensure government non-discrimination in matters of religious beliefs and moral convictions with regards to marriage, the sanctity of human life, or human sexuality?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Oppose

Comment

It infringes on the rights of all Americans.

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Support

R

House

Taffy Howard – Support

R

House

David Johnson – Support

Comment

I support religious freedom.
I served as an officer in the USAF, and I swore to uphold the constitution of the USA. I swore that oath. I made that pledge. I’ll hold true to that oath and that pledge forever. I believe every human being has inherent, natural, God-given rights. I believe Americans have those same rights in addition to the Bill of Rights provided by our constitution. The rights of freedom and justice. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I believe in freedom of religion and the free expression thereof. Freedom to travel. freedom to speak. Freedom to associate. Freedom to own property, and the right to enterprise. The right to privacy. The right to peace. Freedom from excessive or unfair taxation. I believe in the separation of church and state.

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Support

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Support

Comment

The actual language in a bill would be a critical consideration, before I would support.

5) PROTECTED CLASSES: Do you support or oppose legislation that would include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes that are protected from discrimination?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Support

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Oppose

R

House

Taffy Howard – Oppose

R

House

David Johnson – Oppose

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Oppose

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Oppose

6) SD HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC TRANSGENDER POLICY:
Do you support or oppose legislation to void the South Dakota High School Activities Association’s transgender policy, which allows a student to play on a sanctioned sports team contrary to his or her biological sex?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Oppose

Comment

It targets children and is unconstitutional.

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Support

R

House

Taffy Howard – Support

R

House

David Johnson – Support

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Support

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Support

Comment

Each school district should make their own policy as needed. In 2016 HB1112 not only voided the policy but declared the SDHSAA could not address any transgender issues without legislative consent. Sometimes in the name of a cause one desires to do the same thing that one despises about the federal government, micromanagement and control.

7) MEDICAID EXPANSION: Do you support or oppose Medicaid expansion in South Dakota?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Support

Comment

Saves the state money

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Oppose

R

House

Taffy Howard – Oppose

R

House

David Johnson – Oppose

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Oppose

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly –

Comment

It would depend on the specific terms whether or not I would support or oppose Medicaid expansion. If the state paid less money for Medicaid costs, such as having to pay for expenses not currently being paid by Indian Health Services, it could save the state money. Before supporting any expansion, I would expect there would be a trigger to stop the obligation, if the federal government reneged on their commitment.

8) EDUCATION: Do you support or oppose the national education standards and testing methodology often referred to as “Common Core”?

D

House

Ethan Marsland –

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Oppose

R

House

Taffy Howard – Oppose

R

House

David Johnson – Oppose

Comment

For the secure future of our society, I believe every American child and citizen has a right to a quality education. All decisions related to public school teachers, educational facilities, curriculum, funding, benchmark testing, etc., should be discussed and decided at the local level. I believe parents have the inalienable right – and indeed an inalienable obligation – to participate in their child’s education. I stand firmly against federal mandates of any kind as they relate to the education of our kids.

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Oppose

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Oppose

Comment

I support state education standards that remain state-led and state-administered. There should be no federal mandates regarding national academic standards or a unified national assessment. Students need high state standards that are anchored in real world demands that they will face after high school. Curriculum (determined at the local level), high school graduation requirements and assessments should be aligned to the state standards.

9) VIDEO LOTTERY: Do you support or oppose the expansion of video lottery in South Dakota?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Oppose

Comment

Preys on the poor

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Oppose

R

House

Taffy Howard – Oppose

R

House

David Johnson – Oppose

Comment

I believe gambling can become a societal illness. If a society, however, is willing to receive proceeds from the gambling industry, then that same society must offer education and counseling to those who fall victim to gambling’s addiction. The citizens of SD have declared that gambling is a legal entity. I support the voters and I believe in their collective voice. If the time comes when SD voters decide that gambling within the borders is wrong, then I’ll stand by that decision as well. All South Dakotans hava a voice in the discussion of legal gambling. The will of the voters must be heard and honored regarding the issue of gambling expansion or gambling restriction.

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Oppose

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Oppose

10) PAYDAY LOANS: Do you support or oppose a maximum interest rate for payday loan companies?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Support

Comment

preys on the poor

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Oppose

R

House

Taffy Howard – Support

R

House

David Johnson – Support

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen –

Comment

I leave it up to the business as long as it is legal and not mandated that people use their services.

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Support

11) GUN RIGHTS: Do you support or oppose legislation to allow concealed carry of firearms without a permit? This would not eliminate concealed carry permit availability required for reciprocity with other states

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Oppose

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Support

R

House

Taffy Howard – Support

R

House

David Johnson – Support

Comment

As stated above, I swore my life to protect and defend the constitution, which includes the 2nd Amendment. I believe in constitutional carry, open and/or concealed. I’ve been a SD big-game hunter every year of my life since the age of twelve. I believe that every law-abiding citizen has the right to self defense and the right to protect family and property.
I am a competitive shotgunner. In 2015, I held a position on SD’s State Trapshooting team as the eighth-best (out of more than 300) clay target shooter in the state of SD. I hold many trophies for state and national competition shooting. I am a life member of the NRS. Yes, I like guns… handguns, shotguns, and rifles. Among other reasons, I like guns for self-defense, for hunting, for recreation, and for competition. I also advocate citizen gun ownership for simple support of our constitution.

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Support

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Support

Comment

The provisions included in legislation would be important to ensure current firearm laws in the state would still be enforceable.

12) MEDICAL MARIJUANA: Do you support or oppose legislation to allow the medical use of marijuana?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Support

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Oppose

R

House

Taffy Howard – Oppose

R

House

David Johnson – Oppose

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Oppose

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Support

Comment

With pro-active state planning for strict guidelines, medical use of marijuana could have a limited scope in SD.

13) STUDENT PHYSICAL PRIVACY: Do you support or oppose legislation that would restrict access to restrooms and locker rooms in public schools according to the student’s biological sex?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Oppose

Comment

targets children

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Support

R

House

Taffy Howard – Support

R

House

David Johnson – Support

Comment

Simple: Girls in the girls locker room.
Boys in the boys locker room.
I am the proud father of three grown daughters. (In fact, I just learned on Sunday, August 24th, that I will become, for the first time, a grandfather. My oldest daughter and her military service husband are expecting their first child. This is quite exciting!) I believe in safeguarding our community’s children from all harm, whether from child abuse, sexual abuse, predators, or anything else, inside or outside the home. I am an advocate of simple, common sense, biological sexual integrity in our society. I believe in protecting the rights of privacy and modesty for all our kids.

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Support

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly –

Comment

Student physical privacy should be determined at the local level. Many school districts will never face a situation regarding transgender issues. If a district has a situation, allow the people involved to work through the situation away from media and mi

14) TAXATION: Do you support or oppose legislation that would exempt taxation on food and/or clothing?

D

House

Ethan Marsland – Support

Comment

on food

D

House

Jim Hadd –

R

House

Mike Buckingham – Oppose

R

House

Taffy Howard – Support

R

House

David Johnson – Support

D

Senate

Haven Stuck –

R

Senate

Phil Jensen – Support

R

Senate

Jacqueline Sly – Oppose

Comment

Adding sales tax exemptions means finding additional revenue someplace else or cutting current services. Currently about $75 million is collected from tax on food.